S02 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



Tecoma grandiftora has flowered with us, but it is rathei ten- 

 der in i ..is climate. It is a native of China and Japan. " In 

 the growth of the wood it is rather more slender, and the 

 leaves more coarsely serrated than those of B. radicans. The 

 vine has the same habit of attaching itself firmly to a wall, or 

 building of stone, brick, or wood, or to the trunk of a tree 

 within its reach, by the numerous small air-rootlets which it 

 sends out from the inner sides of its shoots. 



" In the blossoms of the Tecoma grandiftora, however, lies 

 its peculiar beauty. These are produced, in great profusion of 

 clusters, in July and August, so as to give the whole plant an 

 exceedingly gay and lively appearance. They 'are not long and 

 tubular, like those of the common Trumpet Flower, but some- 

 what cup-shaped. ^ * * The color is beautifully varied, 

 the outside being a rich pure orange-scarlet, marked with 

 brighter streaks. These gay clusters open their blossoms in suc- 

 cession, so as to keep up a brilliant appearance for a long time; 

 and we are acquainted with no climbing shrub, except the 

 Chinese Wistaria, which at all vies in elegance or brilliancy 

 of effect, in the garden or pleasure-ground, with this during the 

 season of bloom. Last season, we counted over three hundred 

 in bloom, at once, upon a plant in our neighborhood; and the 

 same profuse display continued a fortnight or more. 



" The Tecoma grandiftora may be grown with perfect ease 

 where the old Trumpet Flower (T. radicans} thrives. North 

 of this (Newburg, N. Y.) it will, perhaps, require a little pro- 

 tection in winter, such as a layer of straw tied over the larger 

 shoots, or some branches of evergreens laid against them at the 

 approach of winter. A northern site will also be found the 

 better one at the north, wherever there is a doubt of its hardi- 

 ness, since the temperature will, in such a site, be more uni- 

 form and less injurious than in' a southern aspect. Wherever 

 the Isabella grape ripens, this handsome climbing shrub will be 

 easily cultivated in almost any situation. If there are any 

 fears of its hardiness, it may be protected, as we have pointed 

 out, for a couple of years, till the wood gets strong and well- 



